Needle-bar cutter attachment for sewing-machines.



No. 679,993. Patented my 29, 199|.

, B.. lssmaan. NEEDLE BAR CUTTER ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

(Applica-tion filed 0c?. 30, 1900., (No Model.)

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN BISSINGER, OF OHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO WHEELER da WILSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRIDGE- PORT, CONNECTICUT.

NEEDLE-BAR CUTTER ATTACHMENT FOR SEWlNGeMACHlNES.

SBEGIFIGATTON forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,993, dated July 23, l 901.

Application filed October 30, 1900. Serial No, 34,935. (No model) To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN BIssINGnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and usefullmprovementsin Cutting Attachments for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to sewing-machines, and has for its object to provide an improved needle-bar structure adapted for use in connection with combined cutting and sewing machines, wherein are employed one or more needles and a knife or cutter, and particularly adapted for use in connection with my invention in pocket-cutting and stitching attachments for sewing-machines described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 660,617, granted to me October 30, 1900.

My invention herein described Consists in combining to form a single complete sewingmachine element-viz., the needle-bar-the following-named parts: a bar or rod proper, means for securing one or more needles thereto, a cutting device, and mechanism for manipulating said cutting means, whereby it maybe thrown into or out of operative posi.- tion, as may be desired, without affecting or interfering with the operation of the needles. The result thus accomplished is to produce a neat, compact, and simple device which may be substituted for the needle-bar of an ordinary form of machine and which makes it possible to employ such machine as a double or single needle machine, as a trimmen or as a pocket or buttonhole cutter and stitcher.

In the drawings, Figure l represents my invention embodied in an ordinary form of sewing-machine,.onlyso much of the machine being shown as is necessary to an understanding of the application of my improvement thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the preferred form of the needle-bar detached. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation showing the cutter in its inoperative or withdrawn position. Fig. 5 is a detail of the needle-retaining ring or collar detached. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, A represents the head of a sewing-machine, and B the needle-bar. Said bar may be of any suitable size and is hollow throughout, the size of the bore preferably being greater at the upper end than at the lower, as shown in Fig. 4. The enlarged portion of the bore preferably extends somewhat beyond the middle of the bar and ends in a sharp shoulderor abutment l). The extreme lower end of the needle-bar is exteriorly provided with two parallel dianietrically opposed grooves adapted to receive the tan gs of a pair of machine-needles O O. These needles are preferably retained in place by a band or collar D, correspondingly grooved, surrounding the end of the bar and provided with small set-screws d, arranged to bear upon the tangs of the needles to secure them in position. A

set-screw d holds the whole collar in place.

The said collar is provided with a notch or recess D', and small holes or passages d2, connecting the same with the base of the collar, form thread-guides for the needles.

The knife E is mounted between the needles, preferably midway between them, as shown, and is carried by a sliding rod F, arranged to reciprocate within the central bore of the needle-bar, so as to project the blade into operative position or to retract the same into the slot b in the lower end of the needlebar B, where it will be entirely concealed and out of the way. The rod F comprises astem or reduced portion f, corresponding in diameter to the reduced portion of the bore of the needle-bar, and a head or enlarged portion f', 'corresponding to the enlarged portion of the bore. The length of the stem f is greater than the distance from the lower end of the needle-harto the shoulder b therein, so that aspace is left between the said shoulder b and the base of the head f. Within this space is arrangeda coiled spring g, surrounding the stem f and bearing at its upper and lower ends, respectively,against the base of the head f and the shoulder b of the needle-bar. It

will thus be seen that the spring g serves t0 95 normally hold the rod F and the knife E, carthe range of movement of said rod being limited by a pin or stud H, carried thereby and having sliding engagement with a slot H in IOO the needle-bar. Said pin and slot also prevent the rod F from turning in its socket.

Suitable means are provided for forcing the rod F downward against the action of the spring and holding it in such position, the means which I prefer to employ consisting of a cam I, eccentrically mounted in a slot .I in the upper end of the needle-bar and bearing upon the top of the head f' of the rod F. The cam is provided with a handle I,as shown, and has a iiat surface or notch near its point of greatest eccentricity to prevent slipping when the cam is in set or operative position.

The operation of the device is apparent. When it is desired to use the cutter or knife, the cam is moved to the set position, (shown in Figs. 2 and 3,) forcing the rod F and its knife-blade downward against the resistance of the spring, so that the blade is projected into cutting position, as illustrated. When the cutter is not in use, the cam is moved to the open position (shown in Fig. 4) and the spring g, acting against the head f', forces the rod F upward, retracting the knife within the slot b. By manipulating the set-screws d and d either or both of the needles or the entire collar D may be removed, so as to make the machine a single or double needle stitcher at will.

It is obvious that the size and arrangement of the parts might be varied and many mechanical changes made in this device to suit the requirements of particular cases without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the eX- act construction shown as one embodiment thereof; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a sewing-machine, the combination of a hollow needle-bar, a cutter arranged therein, means carried by the needle-bar for moving said cutter relative to the bar, and means for defining the range of movement of said cutter, substantially as set forth.

2. In a sewing-machine, the combination with a hollow needle-bar, of a knife or cutter arranged within said bar, means for projecting said knife beyond the end of the bar, and spring actuated means for retracting the knife, substantially as set forth.

3. In a sewing-machine, the combination with a hollow needle-bar having a stop or shoulder therein,of a rod having a head thereon, a spring interposed between said head and shoulder, means for moving the rod against the resistance of the spring and holding the same, and a cutter carried by the rod, substantially as set forth.

4. In a sewing-machine, the combination with a hollow needle-bar, of a longitudinallymovable rod arranged therein, a spring normally holding said rod in raised position, a cam for depressing said rod against ihe resistance of the spring, and a knife or cutter carried by the movable rod, substantially as set forth.

5. In a sewing-machine, the combination Vwith a hollow needle-bar, of a longitudinallymovable rod arranged therein, means for rais-- ing and lowering said rod, means for preventing said rod from turning, and a knife carried by said rod and arranged to be projected or retracted as said rod is lowered or raised, substantially as set forth.

BENJAMIN BISSINGER. 

